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EP 0 246 044 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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04.09.1991 Bulletin 1991/36 |
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Date of filing: 08.05.1987 |
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Mixing method
Mischverfahren
Procédé de malaxage
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Designated Contracting States: |
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BE DE ES FR GB IT NL SE |
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Priority: |
16.05.1986 US 864096
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Date of publication of application: |
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19.11.1987 Bulletin 1987/47 |
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Proprietor: FARREL CORPORATION |
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Ansonia
Connecticut 06401 (US) |
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Inventors: |
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- Borzenski, Frank J.
Branford
Connecticut 06405 (US)
- Nortey, Narku O.
Trumbull
Connecticut 06611 (US)
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(74) |
Representative: Downey, William Gerrard et al |
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Wilson, Gunn, M'Caw,
41-51 Royal Exchange,
Cross Street Manchester M2 7BD Manchester M2 7BD (GB) |
(56) |
References cited: :
DE-A- 2 925 250 US-A- 3 610 585
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GB-A- 2 028 153
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- SOVIET INVENTIONS ILLUSTRATED, week E38, 3rd November 1982,Derwent Publications Ltd.,
London, GB
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] This invention relates generally to a mixing method in a mixing machines of the batch
type, that is, machines having a mixing chamber so shaped to accommodate two counter-rotating
winged rotors that mix batches of ingredients fed successively to the mixing chamber
from a charging chamber by a reciprocating ram. Once mixed the ingredients are removed
through a discharge opening and a door closes the opening for mixing a further batch
in the chamber.
[0002] The present invention seeks to optimize the behavior of the ingredients being mixed
by providing a cyclically repeatable window of interaction between the winged rotors
as they turn in opposite directions through at least one revolution of the rotors.
[0003] Conventional high intensity batch mixers have two counter-rotating winged rotors,
driven at the same or slightly different speeds through connecting gears, and the
winged rotors act on the ingredients to move the material from one portion of the
mixing chamber to another. The rotor wings also act on the ingredients to achieve
movement of the material along the axis of each of the rotors. Prior art US-A-3,610,585
illustrates a typical prior art rotor configuration, it will be noted that these rotors
have blades or wings which do not intermesh with one another so that these rotors
can be driven at either slightly different speeds or at the same speed.
[0004] The general object of the present invention is to optimize the mixing behaviours
of the mixer by providing a cyclically repeatable flow pattern in the window of interaction
between the rotors in the mixing chamber where the opposed rotors and wings interact
with one another.
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a method of mixing a batch
of ingredients in a mixing machine of the batch type having a housing defining two
horizontally opposed parti-cylindrical cavities with open sides facing one another
and defining a chamber, said housing having vertically spaced inlet and outlet openings
communicating with said chamber and with said cavities, axially opposed end walls
for said cavities and chamber, a ram for closing said inlet opening, a door for closing
said outlet opening, two opposed, non-intermeshing mixing rotors respective ones of
said rotors being provided in respective ones of said cavities, each said rotor having
at least two generally helical shaped wings each wing having a leading end and a trailing
end, said method of mixing comprising the steps of:
solely driving said rotors at identical speed in opposite directions on parallel
horizontal axes,
orienting said rotors at a predetermined rotational alignment relationship between
them,
said predetermined rotational alignment being within ± 20 degrees of zero degree
alignment of the leading ends of the first rotor wings,
locating a first of said rotor wings on each rotor for serving as a first pair
of opposed rotor wings, moving said first pair of opposed rotor wings at identical
rotor speed through a horizontal reference rectangle defined by said rotor axes and
said two end walls, said first pair of opposed rotor wings moving through said rectangle
on opposite sides of a first diagonal of said rectangle with said leading ends of
said first pair of opposed rotor wings being adjacent respectively to the end walls
and moving through said rectangle at substantially the same first time for transversely
and axially squeeze mixing the ingredients between said first pair of opposed rotor
wings,
said transversely and axially squeeze mixing between said first pair of opposed
rotor wings being toward said first diagonal from opposite sides of said first diagonal,
locating a second of said rotor wings on each rotor for serving as a second pair
of opposed rotor wings, said second pair of opposed rotor wings moving through said
rectangle on opposite sides of a second diagonal of said rectangle with said leading
ends of said second pair of opposed rotor wings being adjacent respectively to the
end walls and moving through said rectangle at substantially the same second time,
said second time being at a point in time after said first pair of opposed rotor
wings have passed through said rectangle for transversely and axially squeeze mixing
the ingredients between said second pair of opposed rotor wings moving through said
rectangle, and
said transversely and axially squeeze mixing between said second pair of opposed
rotor wings being toward said second diagonal from opposite sides of said second diagonal,
thereby said transversely and axially squeese mixing from opposite sides of said
first diagonal and from opposite sides of said second diagonal are each repeated during
each and every revolution of the two rotors.
[0006] In its presently preferred form the mixing machine of the method of the present invention
includes a housing defining a mixing chamber, and more particularly defining horizontally
opposed parti-cylindrical cavities with open sides facing one another. The mixing
chamber is further defined by the lower end of the ram that feeds the materials into
the chamber through an inlet opening, and by a hinged door that closes a lower outlet
opening. The ram and door cooperate with these chamber cavities to define the mixing
chamber. Counter-rotating rotors are provided in each of the parti-cylindrical cavities
and each rotor has at least two generally spiral shaped wings, each wing having a
leading end and a trailing end. The rotors turn on parallel axes and these axes cooperate
with the end walls of the mixing chamber to define a rectangle in a horizontal reference
plane extending across the cavities and mixing chamber. A window of variable geometry
is provided between these rotors in the reference plane as a result of the rotor wings
moving through said plane. Each rotor wing is arranged so that its leading end is
located adjacent one of the end walls of the mixing chamber and so that its trailing
end is provided intermediate the end walls and in spaced circumaxial relationship
behind the leading end by an angle alpha. Furthermore, the wings are more particularly
provided on opposed rotors in opposed pairs, one pair provided on opposite sides of
one diagonal of the rectangle and a second pair of rotor wings provided on opposite
sides of the second diagonal of the rectangle. Thus, the leading ends of these paired
wings will preferably move simultaneously through the reference plane in pairs, and
at predetermined times during the cycle of revolution for the rotors themselves so
that the successively formed window shapes and sizes are repeatable during every revolution
of the rotors. In its presently preferred form the mixing machine is provided with
four pairs of rotor wings each of which pairs acts to so form the variable geometry
window during each 90 degrees of rotation of the winged rotors.
[0007] At least one winged pair comprises long wings that overlap one another axially in
cooperating to so define the window, and in the presently preferred embodiment two
such pairs of long wings are provided to act on the mix in a cyclical fashion that
repeats not only every 360 degrees or each revolution of the rotors but also repeats
itself during each 180 degrees of travel for these rotors.
[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the overall mixing machine in vertical
section.
[0009] Figure 2 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the machine illustrated
in Figure 1, and shows the ram in its down position.
[0010] Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken generally on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
[0011] Figure 3A is a schematic view of the relationship between the two counter-rotating
rotors in the preferred alignment pursuant to the present invention.
[0012] Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3A but taken at a slightly later instant of
time wherein both rotors have turned through 90 degrees relative to the position illustrated
in Figure 3A.
[0013] Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3A and 4, but illustrating the rotors after
a further 90 degrees of rotation, that is after having rotated 180 degrees from the
Figure 3A positions.
[0014] Figure 6 illustrates in schematic fashion, the orientation of the rotor wings in
the views of Figures 3A by unwrapping the cylindrical envelope which contains the
rotor wings.
[0015] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but illustrating the rotor wing orientations
after 90 degrees of rotation for the rotors, and corresponds to Figure 4.
[0016] Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 6 and 7 but illustrating the rotor wings 90
degrees beyond the position of Figure 7 and 180 degrees beyond the position of Figure
6, and corresponds to Figure 5.
[0017] Figure 9 is a graphical presentation of the effect on rotor productivity (Kg/hr)
of departing slightly from 0° alignment of the rotors, that is with one rotor provided
in a different angular relationship from the zero degree relationship suggested in
Figures 3A, 4 and 5.
[0018] Figure 10 is a graphical presentation of the effect on mix viscosity of slight non-alignment
between the rotors as suggested in Figure 9, both Figure 9 and 10 having the same
horizontal units of rotor rotational alignment (that is, 0° alignment +/- non-alignment).
[0019] Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a mixing machine
including a vertically reciprocable ram 10 movable between the position shown in Figure
1 and the position shown in Figure 2 to move a batch of ingredients to be mixed from
a charging chamber 11 into a mixing chamber 17. Two counter-rotating rotors 13 and
13a have wings that act on these ingredients to achieve a thorough mixing thereof.
The reader is referred to previously mentioned prior US-A-3,610,585 and to US-A-2,962,186,
issued November 29, 1960 to C.F. Gottschalk, for a more complete description of the
general aspects of such a mixing machine.
[0020] The ingredients are initially introduced to hopper 15 while the ram 10 is in its
raised position (Figure 1) so that the ingredients drop downwardly into the chamber
11 where they are compressed and fed into the mixing chamber 17 by the ram 10. Once
a batch has been mixed a hinged door 14 opposite the ram 10 is opened to withdraw
the mixed materials. A locking device 25 is provided for securing the door 14 in place
during mixing process. The ram 10 is preferably operated by a vertically reciprocable
fluid motor in the form of actuator 16 having a piston 18 provided in a cylinder for
movement of actuating rod 20. The ram 10 is attached to the lower end of actuating
rod 20 externally of cylinder 16 and air pressure is selectively provided to line
22 for urging the piston downwardly from the Figure 1 position to the Figure 2 position.
The ram 10 is retracted by air pressure to the opposite side of piston 18.
[0021] As best shown in Figure 3, rotors 13 and 13a are driven in opposite directions by
a conventional gear mechanism 24 through drive motor 26. The gear mechanism 24 may
comprise identical gears where the rotors are to be driven at the same speed, or in
the alternative, a typical mixer generally has so-called friction ratio gears that
permit the rotors to be driven at different speeds. However, and in accordance with
the present invention, the gear mechanism 24 serves solely to drive the rotors 13
and 13a at the same speed and at opposite directions so as to realize the advantages
of the present invention. Drive motor 26 may be of conventional configuration, and
preferably includes suitable means for varying the speed of rotation for the rotors,
said speeds being dictated in large part by the ingredients being mixed.
[0022] In accordance with the present invention non-intermeshing rotors 13 and 13a are driven
in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows 28 and 28a, respectively in Figure
3A, such that diagonally opposed long wings 32 and 32a are arranged in opposed pairs
to act on the mix in the window defined by the horizontal plane of the rotor axes
30 and 30a.
[0023] Although generally spiral shaped rotor wings of long and of short axial configuration
are known from the prior art, and clearly shown in the aforementioned U.S.-A-3,610,585
for example, the present invention deals specifically with the phase relationship
between the opposed rotors and the orientation of these spiral shaped wings such that
in both rotors of Figure 3A the leading end 34 and 34a of each wing 32 and 32a, respectively,
moves adjacent to one of the axially opposed end walls 36 and 38 of the mixing chamber.
[0024] As a result first of orienting the wings so that each has its leading end moving
simultaneously through the reference plane defined by the rotor axes, and also as
a result of orienting the wings so that their respective leading ends are located
adjacent the end walls of the mixing chamber, the improved mixing is achieved in that
the wings not only achieve a transverse or extensive mixing whereby the ingredients
are urged from one parti-cylindrical cavity portion of the mixing chamber to the other,
but intensified mixing is achieved as a result of squeezing of the mix axially toward
the center of the mixing chamber 40 (where the center 40 is defined by the intersection
between two diagonals 42 and 44 of a rectangle defined by the end walls 36 and 38
and by the rotor axes 30 and 30a). One such diagonal 42 has the paired rotor wings
32 and 32a provided on opposite sides thereof in Figure 3A, that is in a position
for the rotors referred to hereinafter as a reference or zero degree position. The
combination of transverse and axial squeeze mixing is illustrated in Figure 3A by
the four force diagrams illustrating the tendency for the rotor wings 32 and 32a to
achieve movement of the mix generally toward the one diagonal 42 defined above. Also,
material at the center of the mixer is moved by the wings into the parti-cylindrical
cavities to be mixed by a shearing action.
[0025] In further accordance with the present invention, a second pair of rotor wings 52
and 52a in each of the rotors 13 and 13a, respectively, are provided with their leading
ends located in an axial plane defined by the trailing ends of the one pair of rotors
32 and 32a referred to previously. More particularly, this second pair of rotor wings
52 and 52a are provided at least 90 degrees behind the one longer pair referred to
in the preceding paragraphs. These shorter rotor wings 52 and 52a act on the mix in
substantially the same manner as the longer wings 32 and 32a described above. Each
of these shorter wings 52 and 52a has its leading end adapted to simultaneously intersect
the reference plane defined by the axes 30 and 30a at a point in time when the longer
rotor wings 32 and 32a have passed through the reference plane and this next portion
of the rotor cycle is illustrated in Figure 4. Note that these shorter rotor wings
52 and 52a are oriented on opposite sides of the second diagonal 44 referred to previously
with reference to Figure 3A. Similar diagrams are also provided in Figure 4 to illustrate
the fact that the mix is acted on by the wings so as to impart both transverse and
axial flow directions whereby transverse and intensive mixing are achieved.
[0026] Figures 3A, 4 and 5 represent positions for the horizontally opposed rotors and more
particularly of the rotor wings at 90 degree intervals during a portion of the 360
degrees of rotation for these rotors. The cycle of rotor rotation is repeated for
each revolution of the rotors. In the preferred form of rotor illustrated in these
views, that is where two pairs of long and two pairs of short rotor wings are provided
thereon, it will be apparent that this cycle of window geometry defined by the wings
and the body portions of the rotors in the area of the horizontal reference plane
will repeat itself twice during each such rotor revolution cycle. For example, Figure
5 illustrates the configuration for the rotors 13 and 13a after 180 degrees of rotor
rotation and, although Figure 5 is identical to Figure 3A, it is noted that the longer
rotor wings 62 and 62a occupy the same positions as did the long one pair rotor wings
and 32 and 32a in Figure 3A.
[0027] The repetitive window geometry between the opposed rotors achieved by the rotor wing
configuration of the present invention is illustrated graphically in Figures 6, 7
and 8. The various frames illustrated in these views correspond to the rotor positions
illustrated 3A, 4 and 5 and such frames are appropriately annotated in Figures 6,
7 and 8 for clarity. In Figure 6 the two adjacent frames illustrated at 35 and 35a
on opposite sides of the mixer center line 39 shows schematically the long rotor wings
32 and 32a arranged at opposite sides of the diagonal 42. The adjacent frames are
to illustrate the configuration for the other wings 52 and 52a discussed previously
with reference to Figure 4 and 62 and 62a discussed above with reference to Figure
5.
[0028] Figure 7 simply shows the frames 35 and 35a having moved away from the center window
defined by the opposed rotors and instead said window having been defined by the rotor
wings 52 and 52a arranged at opposite sides of the second diagonal 44 as referred
to previously.
[0029] Figure 8 illustrates another successive 90 degrees of rotation from that of Figure
7 wherein the center frames define the variable geometry window as a result of downward
movement for the rotor wings 62 and 62a. Thus, Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 3A,
Figure 7 to Figure 4, and Figure 8 to Figure 5 in terms of the orientation for the
rotors 13 and 13a and more particularly of these wings in these various views.
[0030] Figures 9 and 10 must be interpreted together, and these graphical presentations
illustrate qualitatively the results achieved by aligning the rotors as described
above and rotating them at the same speeds to provide the cylindircally repeatable
window geometry in the mixing chamber.
[0031] Figures 9 and 10 show the level of productivity and the viscosity level achieved
with the rotors turning at different speeds relative to one another (more particularly,
with a friction ratio of 1.12 to 1).
[0032] In figure 9 it will be seen that the productivity (kg/hr) is slightly better with
the rotors aligned (zero degree), per the preferred arrangement described above, than
with the random alignment that results from rotating one rotor at a speed different
from that of the other rotor. In fact, one can achieve even greater "productivity"
gains if the rotors are rotated at the same speeds and are aligned at a differential
angular relationship than the zero degree alignment. However, "productivity" is not
the sole criteria, and one must also consider viscosity since the purpose here is
not simply to move material, as in a pump, but to mix material and provide material
of minimum viscosity.
[0033] Figure 10 shows that the reduction in viscosity(at zero degree rotor alignment)is
best.The combined results of tests for both viscosity and productivity show that the
advantages of the present invention can be realized if only the rotors are close to
the zero degree alignment referred to above. More specifically, the rotors should
be within their +/- 20 degrees of this zero degree orientation for best results.
[0034] In conclusion then, the rotor configuration and operation as described above has
led to improved viscosity and productivity for non-intermeshing synchronized rotors
over the results one can expect from the non-synchronized rotors. The mix is rendered
less viscous in a shorter period of time utilizing the above described rotor configurations
as compared to the result achieved with the rotor configuration of prior art U.S.-A-3,610,585
for example.
1. A method of mixing a batch of ingredients in a mixing machine of the batch type
having a housing defining two horizontally opposed parti-cylindrical cavities with
open sides facing one another and defining a chamber(17), said housing having vertically
spaced inlet and outlet openings (11,14) communicating with said chamber and with
said cavities, axially opposed end walls (36,38) for said cavities and chamber, a
ram (10) for closing said inlet opening, a door (14) for closing said outlet opening,
two opposed,
non-intermeshing mixing rotors (13,13a), respective ones of said rotors being provided
in respective ones of said cavities, each said rotor having at least two generally
helical shaped wings (32,32a and 52,52a) each wing having a leading end (34, 34a)
and a trailing end each trailing end being spaced circumaxially behind its leading
end by an angle (a) relative to the direction of rotor rotation, said method of mixing
comprising the steps of:
solely driving said rotors at identical speed in opposite directions on parallel
horizontal axes (30,30a),
orienting said rotors at a predetermined rotational alignment relationship between
them,
said predetermined rotational alignment being within ± 20 degrees of zero degree
alignment of the leading ends of the first rotor wings,
locating a first of said rotor wings on each rotor for serving as a first pair
of opposed rotor wings (32, 32a), moving said first pair of opposed rotor wings at
identical rotor speed through a horizontal reference rectangle defined by said rotor
axes and said two end walls, said first pair of opposed rotor wings moving through
said rectangle on opposite sides of a first diagonal (42) of said rectangle with said
leading ends of said first pair of opposed rotor wings being adjacent respectively
to the end walls and moving through said rectangle at substantially the same first
time for transversely and axially squeeze mixing the ingredients between said first
pair of opposed rotor wings,
said transversely and axially squeeze mixing between said first pair of opposed
rotor wings being toward said first diagonal from opposite sides of said first diagonal,
locating a second of said rotor wings (52,52a) on each rotor for serving as a second
pair of opposed rotor wings, said first and second pair of rotor wings having their
respective leading ends oriented in staggered angular relationship relative to one
another said second pair of opposed rotor wings moving through said rectangle on opposite
sides of a second diagonal (44) of said rectangle with said leading ends of said second
pair of opposed rotor wings being adjacent respectively to the end walls and moving
through said rectangle at substantially the same second time,
said second time being at a point in time after said first pair of opposed rotor
wings have passed through said rectangle for transversely and axially squeeze mixing
the ingredients between said second pair of opposed rotor wings moving through said
rectangle, and
said transversely and axially squeeze mixing between said second pair of opposed
rotor wings being toward said second diagonal from opposite sides of said second diagonal,
thereby said transversely and axially squeese mixing from opposite sides of said
first diagonal and from opposite sides of said second diagonal are each repeated during
each and every revolution of the two rotors.
2. A method of mixing as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further steps of:
locating a third and a fourth helical shaped wing on each rotor each wing having
a leading and a trailing end, with said third wing on each rotor being opposite the
first wing on the rotor and with the fourth wing on each rotor being opposite the
second wing on the rotor,
said third wings on the rotors for serving as a third pair (62,62a) of opposed
rotor wings moving through the rectangle at identical rotor speed on opposite sides
of said first diagonal with their leading ends being adjacent respectively to the
end walls and moving through said rectangle at approximately a same third time when
each of said rotors has turned 180 degrees from its respective position at said first
time for transversely and axially squeeze mixing the ingredients between said third
pair of opposed sides of said first diagonal,
said transversely and axially squeeze mixing between said third pair of opposed
rotor wings being toward said first diagonal from opposite sides of said first diagonal,
said fourth wings on the rotors for serving as a fourth pair of opposed rotor wings
moving through the rectangle at identical rotor speed on opposite sides of said second
diagonal with their leading ends being adjacent respectively to the end walls and
moving through said rectangle at approximately a same fourth time for axially and
transversely squeeze mixing the ingredients between said fourth pair of opposed rotor
wings moving through said rectangle on opposite sides of said second diagonal,
said transversely and axially squeeze mixing between said fourth pair of opposed
rotor wings being toward said second diagonal from opposite sides of said second diagonal,
thereby said transversley and axially squeeze mixing from opposite sides of said
first diagonal and from opposite sides of said second diagonal are each repeated twice
during each and every revolution of the two rotors.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pair of opposed rotor wings
(32,32a) have sufficient length in the axial direction so that said wings of said
first pair overlap one another axially.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second pair of opposed rotor wings
(52,52a) have an axial length shorter than said first pair of opposed rotor wings.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angle (a) between the leading and
trailing ends of each said wings of said first pair is at least 90 degrees.
6. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second and fourth pairs of opposed
rotors wings have their respective leading ends oriented in diametrically opposed
relationship to one another, and wherein said first and third pairs of opposed rotor
wings have their respective leading ends oriented in diametrically opposed relationship
to one another, said diametrical opposed orientation of said paired leading ends being
arranged at right angles to one another.
1. Verfahren zum Mischen einer Charge von Mischungsbestandteilen in einer Mischmaschine
des Chargentyps, mit einem Gehäuse, das zwei horizontal angeordnete, einander gegenüberliegende
teilzylindrische Hohlräume mit einander gegenüberliegenden offenen Seitenflächen aufweist,
wodurch eine Kammer (17) gebildet ist, wobei dieses Gehäuse voneinander vertikal beabstandete
Einlaß- und Auslaßöffnungen (11, 14) aufweist, die in Verbindung mit dieser Kammer
und mit diesen Hohlräumen stehen, einander axial gegenüberliegenden Endwänden (36,
38) für diese Hohlräume und diese Kammer, einen Stößel (10), um diese Einlaßöffnung
abzuschließen, einer Klappe (14), um diese Auslaßöffnung abzuschließen, zwei einander
gegenüberliegende,
nicht miteinander kämmende Mischrotoren (13, 13a), wobei jeder dieser Rotoren in einem
der entsprechenden Hohlräume angeordnet ist, wobei jeder dieser Rotoren zumindest
zwei im wesentlichen spiralförmig gestaltete Flügel (32, 32a und 52, 52a) aufweist,
wobei jeder dieser Flügel ein vorderes, führendes Ende (34, 34a) und ein rückwärtiges
Ende aufweist, wobei jedes rückwärtige Ende in axialer Richtung durch einen Winkel
(α) beabstandet ist, und zwar in bezug auf die Richtung der Drehbewegung, wobei dieses
Mischverfahren die folgenden Schritte aufweist:
ausschließlicher Antrieb dieser Rotoren mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit in unterschiedlichen
Richtungen auf parallelen horizontalen Achsen (30, 30a),
Orientierung dieser Rotoren mit einer vorbestimmten Ausrichtung in Drehrichtung
zueinander,
wobei diese vorbestimmte Ausrichtung in Drehrichtung innerhalb von ± 20° einer
Null-Grad-Ausrichtung der vorderen Enden der ersten Rotorflügel liegt,
Lokalisieren eines ersten dieser Rotorflügel an jedem Rotor, um als erstes Paar
von gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln (32, 32a) zu dienen,
Bewegen dieses ersten Paares von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln mit identischer
Rotorgeschwindigkeit durch ein horizontales Bezugsviereck, welches durch diese Rotorachsen
und diese beiden Endwände gebildet ist, wobei sich dieses erste Paar von einander
gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln durch dieses Rechteck auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten
einer ersten Diagonale (42) dieses Rechtecks beweg, wobei das vordere Ende dieses
ersten Paares von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln in der Nähe zu den jeweiligen
Endwänden liegt und die Bewegung durch dieses Rechteck im wesentlichen innerhalb der
gleichen ersten Zeit erfolg, um die Mischungsbestandteile zwischen diesem ersten Paar
von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln quer und axial zu quetschen,
wobei dieses quer und axial verlaufende Quetschmischen zwischen diesem ersten Paar
von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln gegen diese erste Diagonale von entgegengesetzten
Seiten dieser ersten Diagonale gerichtet ist,
Lokalisieren von zweiten Rotorflügeln (52, 52a) auf jedem Rotor, um als zweites
Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln zu dienen, wobei dieses erste und
dieses zweite Paar von Rotorflügeln ihre entsprechenden vorderen Enden in gestaffelter
Winkelanordnung zueinander orientiert haben, und wobei dieses zweite Paar voneinander
gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln sich durch dieses Viereck auf entgegengesetzten Seiten
einer zweiten Diagonale (44) dieses Rechtecks bewegt, wobei diese vorderen, führenden
Enden dieses zweiten Paares von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln entsprechend
den Endwänden benachbart sind und sich durch das Rechteck im wesentlichen in der gleichen
zweiten Zeit bewegen,
wobei diese zweite Zeit an einem Zeitpunkt liegt, nachdem dieses erste Paar von
einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln dieses Rechteck für das querlaufende und
axiale Quetschmischen der Bestandteile zwischen diesem zweiten Paar voneinander gegenüberliegenden
Rotorflügeln durchlaufen hat, welche sich durch dieses Rechteck bewegen, und wobei
dieses quer und axial verlaufende Quetschmischen zwischen diesem zweiten Paar von
einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln auf diese zweite Diagonale von einander gegenüberliegenden
Seiten dieser zweiten Diagonale hin gerichtet ist, wodurch dieses quer und axial verlaufende
Quetschmischen von entgegengesetzten Seiten der ersten Diagonale und von entgegengesetzten
Seiten der zweiten Diagonale jeweils während jeder Umdrehung der beiden Rotoren wiederholt
wird.
2. Verfahren zum Mischen gemäß Anspruch 1, welches weiterhin die folgenden Schritte
aufweist:
Lokalisieren eines dritten und eines vierten spiralförmig gestalteten Flügels auf
jeden Rotor, wobei jeder Flügel ein vorderes, führendes und ein hinteres Ende aufweist,
und wobei dieser dritte Flügel an jedem Rotor entgegengesetzt dem ersten Flügel dieses
Rotors angebracht ist, und wobei der vierte Flügel auf jedem Rotor entgegengesetzt
des zweiten Flügels auf dem Rotor angebracht ist, und
wobei diese dritten Flügel auf dem Rotor als ein drittes Paar (62, 62a) von einander
gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln dient, welche sich durch das Rechteck mit identischer
Rotorgeschwindigkeit auf einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten dieser ersten Diagonale
bewegt, wobei ihre führenden vorderen Enden den Endwänden benachbart sind und wobei
die Bewegungen durch dieses Rechteck bei näherungsweise einer gleichen dritten Zeit
stattfinden, wenn jeder dieser Rotoren um 180° von seiner entsprechenden Position
von dieser ersten Zeit aus gedreht hat, um ein quer und axial verlaufendes Quetschmischen
zwischen den Bestandteilen zwischen diesem dritten Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden
Seiten dieser ersten Diagonale zu bewirken,
wobei dieses quer und axial verlaufende Quetschmischen zwischen diesem dritten
Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln zu dieser ersten Diagonale von entgegengesetzten
Seiten dieser ersten Diagonale hin gerichtet ist, und
wobei diese vierten Flügel auf dem Rotor als viertes Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden
Rotorflügeln dienen, die sich durch das Rechteck mit identischer Rotorgeschwindigkeit
auf einander entgegengesetzten Seiten dieser zweiten Diagonale bewegen, wobei ihre
führenden Enden entsprechend benachbart zu den Endwänden sind und sich durch dieses
Rechteck in näherungsweise einer vierten Zeit bewegen, um die Bestandteile zwischen
diesem vierten Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln, die sich durch dieses
Rechteck aufeinander gegenüberliegenden Seiten dieser zweiten Diagonale bewegen, mit
einem quer- und axialverlaufenden Quetschmischen zu mischen, und
wobei dieses quer- und axialverlaufende Quetschmischen von diesem vierten Paar
von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln zu dieser zweiten Diagonale von einander
gegenüberliegenden Seiten dieser zweiten Diagonale ausgerichtet ist, und
wobei dieses quer- und axialverlaufende Quetschmischen von entgegengesetzten Seiten
dieser ersten Diagonale und von entgegengesetzten Seiten dieser zweiten Diagonale
jeweils zweimal während jeder Umdrehung dieser beiden Rotoren wiederholt wird.
3. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei dieses erste Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden
Rotorflügeln (32, 32a) eine derartige Länge in axialer Richtung aufweist, daß diese
Flügel von diesem ersten Paar einander axial überlappen.
4. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei dieses zweite Paar von einander gegenüberliegenden
Flügeln (52, 52a) eine axiale Länge aufweist, die kürzer ist, als die dieses ersten
Paares von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln.
5. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei dieser Winkel (α) zwischen den vorderen, führenden
und hinteren Enden dieser Flügel dieses ersten Paares zumindest 90° beträgt.
6. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 2, wobei diese zweite und vierte Paare von einander gegenüberstehenden
Rotorflügeln ihre entsprechenden vorderen, führenden Enden in diametral entgegengesetzter
Beziehung zueinander ausgerichtet haben, und wobei diese erste und diese dritte Paare
von einander gegenüberliegenden Rotorflügeln ihre entsprechenden vorderen, führenden
Enden in diametral gegenüberliegender Beziehung zueinander angeordnet haben, wobei
die diametral gegenüberliegende Orientierung dieser gepaarten vorderen, führenden
Enden rechtwinklig zueinander angeordnet ist.
1. Procédé de mélange d'un lot d'ingrédients dans une mélangeuse de type à traitement
par lot, présentant un carter, définissant deux cavités partiellement cylindriques,
opposées horizontalement, avec des faces ouvertes placées l'une en face de l'autre
et définissant une chambre (17), ledit carter comportant des ouvertures d'entrée et
de sortie (11,14), espacées verticalement, communiquant avec ladite chambre et avec
lesdites cavités, des parois d'extrémité (36,38) opposées axialement, pour lesdites
cavités et chambre, un coulisseau (10), pour obturer ladite ouverture d'entrée, une
porte (14) pour obturer ladite ouverture de sortie,
deux rotors de mélange (13,13a), opposés et non-engrenés l'un dans l'autre, chacun
desdits rotors étant prévu dans une cavité respective, chaque rotor présentant au
moins deux ailettes (32,32a,52,52a), en forme générale hélicoïdale, chaque ailette
présentant une extrémité avant (34,34a) et une extrémité arrière, chaque extrémité
arrière étant espacée circonférentiellement à l'arrière de son extrémité avant de
la valeur d'un angle (α) par rapport au sens de direction du rotor, ledit procédé
de mélange comprenant les étapes consistant à :
entraîner lesdits rotors seulement à une vitesse égale dans des sens opposés sur
des axes horizontaux parallèles (30,30a),
orienter lesdits rotors l'un par rapport à l'autre suivant une relation de positionnement
en rotation prédéterminée,
ledit positionnement en rotation prédéterminé étant situé dans la plage de ± 20°
par rapport à l'alignement à 0° des extrémités avant des premières ailettes de rotor,
placer une première desdites ailettes de rotor, sur chaque rotor, pour servir de
premier couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées (32,32a), déplacer ledit premier couple
d'ailettes de rotor opposées à une vitesse de rotor égale, en passant dans un rectangle
de référence horizontal, défini par lesdits axes de rotor et lesdites deux parois
d'extrémité, ledit premier couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées se déplaçant dans ledit
rectangle, sur des côtés opposés par rapport à une première diagonale (42) dudit rectangle,
avec lesdites extrémités avant de ladite première paire d'ailettes de rotor opposées
adjacentes respectivement aux parois d'extrémité et se déplaçant dans ledit rectangle,
sensiblement au même moment, pour produire un mélange avec malaxage transversal et
axial des ingrédients, entre ledit premier couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées,
ledit mélange à malaxage transversal et axial entre ledit premier couple d'ailettes
de rotor opposées étant effectué en direction de ladite première diagonale, par rapport
aux côtés opposés de ladite première diagonale, placer une seconde desdites ailettes
de rotor (52,52a) sur chaque rotor, pour servir de second couple d'ailettes de rotor
opposées, lesdits premier et second couple d'ailettes de rotor présentant leurs extrémités
avant respectives en position angulaire en quinconce par rapport à la machine, ladite
seconde paire d'ailettes de rotor opposées passant dans ledit rectangle sur les côtés
opposés d'une seconde diagonale (44) dudit rectangle, avec lesdites extrémités avant
dudit second couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées adjacentes respectivement aux parois
d'extrémité et se déplaçant dans ledit rectangle sensiblement au même moment,
ledit second moment étant situé à un moment ultérieur au moment où le premier couple
d'ailettes de rotor opposées sont passées dans ledit rectangle, pour mélanger avec
malaxage transversal et axial les ingrédients, entre ledit second couple d'ailettes
de rotor opposées, en se déplaçant dans ledit rectangle, et
ledit mélange avec malaxage transversal et axial, entre ledit second couple d'ailettes
de rotor opposées s'effectuant vers ladite seconde diagonale, en partant des côtés
opposés de ladite seconde diagonale,
de manière que ledit mélange à malaxage transversal et axial partant des côtés
opposés de ladite première diagonale et des côtés opposés de ladite seconde diagonale
soit chaque fois répété à chaque rotation des deux rotors.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outres les étapes consistant à
:
placer une troisième ailette de forme hélicoïdale sur chaque rotor, chaque ailette
présentant une extrémité avant et une extrémité arrière, avec ladite troisième ailette
sur chaque rotor, placée à l'opposé de la première ailette sur le rotor et avec la
quatrième ailette sur chaque rotor placée à l'opposé de la seconde ailette sur le
rotor,
lesdites troisièmes ailettes des rotors, servant de troisième couple (62,62a) d'ailettes
de rotor opposées, passant dans le rectangle à une vitesse de rotor égale et sur les
côtés opposés de ladite première diagonale, avec leurs extrémités avant adjacentes
respectivement aux parois d'extrémité et se déplaçant dans ledit rectangle à approximativement
une troisième fois lorsque chacun desdits rotor a tourné de 180° par rapport à sa
position respective audit premier moment, pour produire un mélange à malaxage transversal
et axial des ingrédients, entre ledit troisième couple de côtés opposés de ladite
première diagonale,
ledit mélange à malaxage transversal et axial entre ledit troisième couple d'ailettes
de rotor opposées s'effectuant en direction de ladite première diagonale, en partant
des côtés opposés de ladite première diagonale,
lesdites quatrième ailettes des rotors, servant de quatrième paire d'ailette de
rotor opposées, passant dans le rectangle à une vitesse égale à celle du rotor, sur
les côtés opposés de ladite seconde diagonale, avec leurs extrémités avant adjacentes
respectivement aux parois d'extrémité et se déplaçant dans ledit rectangle à peu près
une quatrième fois, pour produire un mélange à malaxage axial et transversal, entre
ledit quatrième couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées qui se déplace dans ledit rectangle,
sur les côtés opposés de ladite seconde diagonale,
ledit mélange avec malaxage transversal et axial, entre ledit quatrième couple
d'ailettes de rotor opposées s'effectuant vers ladite seconde diagonale, en partant
des côtés opposés de ladite seconde diagonale,
de manière que ledit mélange à malaxage transversal et axial partant des côtés
opposés de ladite première diagonale et des côtés opposés de ladite seconde diagonale
soit chaque fois répété deux fois à chaque rotation des deux rotors.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit premier couple d'ailettes de
rotor opposées (32,32a) présente une longueur suffisante en direction axiale, de telle
façon que lesdites ailettes dudit premier couple se chevauchent les unes les autres
axialement.
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit second couple d'ailettes de
rotor opposées (52,52a) présente une longueur axiale plus courte que celle dudit premier
couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées.
5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit angle (α) entre les extrémités
avant et arrière de chacune desdites ailettes dudit premier couple est d'au moins
90 degrés.
6. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdits second et quatrième couples
d'ailettes de rotor opposées présentent leurs extrémités avant respectives orientées
mutuellement en une relation diamétralement opposée, et dans lequel lesdits premier
et troisième couple d'ailettes de rotor opposées présentent leurs extrémités avant
respectives orientées mutuellement en une relation diamétralement opposée, ladite
orientation diamétralement opposée desdits couples d'ailettes avant étant disposée
mutuellement à angle droit.